China Hits US Defense Contractors with Sanctions over Taiwan Arms Deal

[b]● China has imposed sanctions on Lockheed Martin and Raytheon for selling arms to Taiwan.
● The sanctions will restrict the two U.S. firms from conducting business with Chinese companies and institutions.
● China's foreign ministry said these sanctions were in response to recent US arms sales to Taiwan, which it sees as a breakaway province.[/b]

[i][c=666666]Today on Thursday (Feb 09) China has imposed sanctions on Lockheed Martin and Raytheon in response to their arms sales to Taiwan, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry. (REUTERS)[/c][/i]

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China has imposed sanctions on the US defense giants, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, for selling arms to Taiwan. This is the first time in nearly four decades that Beijing has taken such an action against a major US defense contractor.

The sanctions, which will include a ban on business with Chinese entities, follow China’s recent approval of a $2.2 billion arms deal with Taiwan.The sale includes 108 M1A2T Abrams tanks and 250 Stinger missiles. China’s foreign ministry said the sanctions are a “necessary response” to the US’s “provocation” of the “one-China principle”, which states that Taiwan is part of China.

[i][c=666666]Raytheon's Logo on a building - San Diego, California, U.S. (9REUTERS)[/c][/i]